A group of thieves are caught on camera stealing high-powered guns and they look like kids.
"Kids don't need to be running around with shotguns unless they are out hunting rabbits,” said Tulsa County Pawn Jerry Jackson.
Monday morning around 3:30 am, four suspects broke into Tulsa County Pawn in the 5100 block of S. 33rd West Avenue.
Surveillance video showed the thieves threw blocks of concrete through the front door.
The three suspects were caught on camera bursting through the doors, hopping over the counter and stealing two rifles and shotguns.
"That was three shotguns those are all 12 gauge,” said Jackson. “They were the most dangerous ones we had on the wall."
The thieves didn’t hide their faces. Another one is too short to reach for the rifles on the wall so he was seen stepping on a case.
The first thief out the door jumps over the counter and looks straight into the camera.
"I know if that was my son I would recognize that shirt,” said Jackson.
In less than a minute the crooks took off. "There they go, there's the suitcase,” said Jackson.
The thieves brought a flashy black suitcase with red lips to the scene which was most likely used to carry the stolen loot.
However, they dumped it near the parking lot.
"They were pretty gutsy,” said Jackson. "No children need to be walking around town with guns."
One of the shotguns was a Mossberg 500 pistol grip and the other two were Remington 870s, the same as what Tulsa police use.
"Now, there are five guns on the street that weren't on the street on Sunday,” said Jackson.
Tulsa County Pawn says it’s not worried about the money lost but about who is carrying the high powered guns on the street.
"I spend more time in this neighborhood than I do at home. I want to be as safe as the next guy,” said Jackson.
Police say the illegal guns they find on the streets are often found from robberies and burglaries.
Tulsa Police Gang Officer James Bohanon said guns have been found on kids as young as 12 and adults up to ages 35. Every gang has one and upcoming gang members want them.
"Some of them start at nine or ten years old. They are indoctrinated by their families or friends in school,” said Bohanon.
From 2008 to 2011, officers with the Tulsa Police Organized Unit recovered a record number of 586 guns off the street.
"It's our focused effort. Everyone on the Department going out there and trying to find the bad guys and trying to help everyone out and get these bad guys off the street. So it's safer to live here in Tulsa,” said Bohanon.
While the number of guns recovered is lower this year than years past, 54 so far this year, the number of homicides is down and so is gun-related crimes, which are at 455. However, guns remain the main weapon used in homicides.
“Every firearm we recover is a trigger pull away from being a homicide. We are going to be working hard at it,” said Bohanon.
There was also a break-in at a midtown home where thieves stole rifles and shotguns. A woman was caught on camera using a credit card at a Broken Arrow Wal-Mart that was stolen from that home.
If you have any information call Crime Stoppers at (918) 596-COPS (2677) or text a tip to “CRIMES” (274637) and begin your message with “TIP918” or you can submit a tip online at
www.tipsubmit.com. Remember you never have to give your name and your tip could lead to a cash reward.
